Fall Protection –

Working at Heights

Goal • F
 all Hazard Exposure – any floor opening, unprotected
side or edge, or wall opening which an employee approaches
The goal of this handout is to provide an overview of the OSHA within 6 feet without a guardrail system, floor opening cover,
Construction Standards, 29 CFR 1926.500 - 1926.503, Fall personal fall arrest system, or safety net system.
Protection, and the OSHA General Industry Standard, 29 CFR
1910.23, Guarding Floor and Wall Openings and Holes. • F
 loor Hole or Opening Cover – a cover which completely
covers the floor hole or opening, is secured against
Employer Responsibilities dislodgement, and is capable of supporting at least twice the
maximum anticipated load without failure.
• E
 mployers must provide fall protection if their employees are
required to work at situations outlined in these standards. • G
 uardrail System – a top rail 42 + 3 inches high, a toeboard
4 inches high, and a midrail located between the top rail and
• E
 mployers must determine if the walking/working surfaces toeboard. A guardrail system must be capable of withstanding
their employees must work on have the strength and a force of 200 pounds in any outward or downward direction
structural integrity to support employees safely. on the toprail and a force of 150 pounds in any outward or
downward direction on the midrail without failure.
• W
 hen employees are on walking/working surfaces with an
unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet or more above a lower • H
 ole – a gap or void of 2 inches or more in its least
level, they must be protected from falling by the use of guardrail dimension, in a floor, roof or other walking/working surface.
systems, safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems.
• L
 anyard – a flexible line of rope, wire rope, or strap which
• E
 mployers must train employees who might be exposed to generally has a connector at each end for connecting the
fall hazards. Employees must be trained in: body belt or body harness to a deceleration device, lifeline,
or anchorage.
• the nature of the fall hazards in their work area;
• L
 eading Edge – the edge of a floor, roof or formwork for
• the correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, a floor or other walking/working surface (such as the deck)
disassembling, and inspecting the fall protection systems which changes location as additional floor, roof, decking, or
to be used; formwork sections are placed, formed, or constructed. A
leading edge is considered to be an “unprotected side and
• the use and operation of guardrail systems, personal fall edge” during periods when it is not actively and continuously
arrest systems, safety net systems, warning line systems, under construction.
safety monitoring systems, controlled access zones, and
other protection to be used; • O
 pening – a gap or void 30 inches or more high and 18
inches or more wide, in a wall or partition, through which
• the role of employees in the safety monitoring system; employees can fall to a lower level.
• limitations on the use of mechanical equipment, and • P
 ersonal Fall Arrest System – a system used to arrest
an employee in a fall from a working level. It consists of an
• the correct procedures for handling, storing equipment and anchorage, connectors, a body harness and may include a
materials and erecting overhead protection. lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or suitable combinations
of these. All lanyards and other fall arrest devices must have
Definitions locking snaphooks.
• B
 ody Harness – straps which may be secured about the • S
 afety Monitoring System – means a safety system in
employee in a manner that will distribute the fall arrest forces which a competent person is responsible for recognizing and
over at least the thighs, pelvis, waist, chest and shoulders warning employees of fall hazards.
with means for attaching it to other components of a personal
fall arrest system.
• C
 ontrolled Access Zone (CAZ) – an area in which certain
work (e.g. overhand bricklaying) may take place without the
use of guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, or
safety net systems and access to the zone is controlled.

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• S
 afety Net System – Safety nets must be installed as close • T
 oeboards must be a minimum of 3 ½ inches from their top
as practicable under the walking/working surface on which edge to the level of the walking/working surface, and must
employees are working, but not more than 30 feet below such not be more than 1/4 inch clearance above the walking/
surface. Safety nets must extend outward from the outermost working surface.
projection of the work surface as follows:
Personal Fall Arrest Systems:
Vertical distance from Minimum required horizontal
working level to distance of outer edge of net • A
 ll personal fall arrest system components must be kept in
horizontal plane of net from the edge of the working good operating condition.
surface
• P
 ersonal fall arrest components must be thoroughly inspected
Up to 5 feet...........................................................8 feet by the user prior to each use.
More than 5 feet, up to 10 feet............................10 feet
More than 10 feet................................................13 feet • D
 efective personal fall arrest system components must be
removed from service immediately and repaired or discarded.
Safety nets must be installed with sufficient clearance under
them to prevent contact with the surface or structures below Belts, Lanyards an Lifelines:
when subjected to an impact force.
• B
 ody belts are no longer acceptable as part of a personal fall
• U
 nprotected Side or Edge – a walking/working surface side arrest system. (However, the use of a body belt is acceptable
or edge 6 feet or more above a lower level which does not in a positioning device system.)
have a guardrail system at least 39 inches high.
• F
 ull body harnesses, lanyards and lifelines must be worn by
• W
 alking/Working Surface – a surface on which an all employees working 6 feet or more above a lower level, if
employee walks or works, including, but not limited to, guardrails or safety net systems are not used for fall protection.
floors, roofs, ramps, bridges, runways, formwork, concrete
reinforcing steel and walkways. • B
 ody harnesses must be equipped with Dee-rings and
locking snap hooks that have a minimum tensile strength of
• W
 all Opening – an opening in any wall or partition which is 5,000 pounds.
less than 39 inches above the walking/working surface, is
at least 30 inches high, and is at least 18 inches wide, and • L
 anyards and lifelines must have a minimum breaking strength
has an outside bottom edge which is 6 feet or more above a of 5,000 pounds.
lower level.
• L
 anyards must not be used for anything other than
Protection from Falling Objects: fall protection.

When employees are potentially exposed to falling objects, employers • There must be one vertical lifeline for each person.
must provide hard hats and must implement one of the following:
Warning Lines and Controlled Access Zones:
• Toeboards or screens.
• W
 arning lines must be erected no less than 6 feet nor
• Erect a canopy structure to catch falling objects. more than 25 feet from the unprotected or leading edge.
This designates a “Controlled Access Zone”. The control
• B
 arricade the area under the working area to keep employees (or warning) line must extend along the entire length of the
(and others) away from the fall hazards. unprotected or leading edge.

Guard Rails: • W
 hen the control line is used to control access to areas
where overhand bricklaying is being conducted, the controlled
• T
 op edge height of top rails must be 42 inches + 3 inches access zone shall be defined by a control line erected not less
above the walking/working surface. than 10 feet nor more than 15 feet from the working edge. It
must extend for a distance sufficient for the controlled access
• G
 uardrail systems must be able to withstand a force of at zone to enclose all working employees.
least 200 pounds (applied within 2 inches of the top edge) in
any outward or downward direction. Safety Monitoring System:
• S
 teel or plastic banding cannot be used at top rails or A competent person must be designated to monitor the safety of other
midrails. If wire rope is used for top rails, it must be flagged at employees and the employer must ensure that the safety monitor:
every 6-foot intervals with highly visible material.
• Is competent to recognize fall hazards;
• Midrails (or equivalent) must be at least 21 inches.
• W
 ill warn employees of fall hazards or if employees are acting
• If midrails are not used, screens or mesh must be able to in an unsafe manner;
withstand a force of at least 150 pounds applied in any
downward or outward direction at any point along the midrail. • W
 ill be on the same walking/working surface and be within
sight of the employees that are being monitored;
• Guardrails must have supports (or posts) every 8 feet.
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 • Will be close enough to communicate orally with employees; • beneath ongoing work or

• W
 ill not have other responsibilities which could take the • in areas where debris may fall.
monitor’s attention from the monitoring function.
Personal fall arrest systems must be used on all mechanical lifts and
Floor Covers: sky climbers. (29 CFR 1910.67)

• M
 ust support twice the weight of people, equipment and Ladders:
materials that might be on the cover at any one time.
• P
 ermanent, or fixed, ladders over 20 feet in length and
• M
 ust be secured to prevent displacement by the wind, ladders at elevated locations must be equipped with caging
employees or equipment. and strapping in compliance with 29 CFR 1910.27.

• M
 ust be marked with the word “HOLE” or “COVER” to • P
 ortable extension ladders must extend 3 feet above the
provide warning of the hazard. (This does not apply to upper working level and must be tied off or held by an
manhole covers or grates used on streets or roads.) employee when in use to prevent dislodgement.

Uncovered Floor Holes: Fixed Ladderway Openings:

• A
 hole is defined as a gap of 2 inches or more in its least • A
 ll fixed ladderway openings must be equipped with swing
dimension on a floor, roof or other walking/working surface. gates or chains.

• E
 mployees must be protected from falling through holes Hoist Wells:
more than 6 feet above the lower level by personal fall arrest
systems, covers, or guardrails erected around the holes. • Must have guardrails on all sides

• If the drop from the hole is less than 6 feet, but the floor hole • 2 sides can be removable,
is above dangerous equipment, guardrails must be on all
sides of the hole OR the equipment must be guarded. • A
 personal fall arrest system must be used also, if leaning
is required.
Wall Openings:
Overhand Bricklaying and Related Work:
If the wall opening is less than 39 inches above the walking/working
surface, at least 30 inches high, and at least 18 inches wide, and has • E
 mployees performing overhand bricklaying work 6 feet or
an outside bottom edge which is 6 feet or more above a lower level: more above a lower level, must be protected by guardrails,
safety nets, personal fall arrest systems or must work in a
• It must be guarded by guardrails unless a safety net or a controlled access zone. The controlled access zone must be
personal fall arrest system is used. defined by a control line not less than 10 feet or more than 15
feet from the working edge.
• If a safety net is used, it cannot be greater than 30 feet below
the walking/working surface. • W
 hen employees have to reach greater than 10 inches below
the level of the walking/working surface on which they are
Excavations: working, they must be protected from falling by guardrails,
safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems.
Excavation fall hazard exposures must be eliminated by either:
Roofing Work on Low-sloped Roofs:
• a guardrail system,
When the leading edge is greater than 6 feet above the ground (or
• a
 fence or barricade which restricts access to the the lower level):
excavation area,
• E
 mployees must be protected by a guardrail, safety net,
• a
 solid and substantial excavation covering capable of personal fall arrest system, OR a combination of:
supporting the maximum anticipated load without failure, or
• Warning line and guardrail, OR
• the use of personal fall arrest systems.
• Warning line and safety net, OR
Scaffolds:
• Warning line and personal fall arrest system.
• A
 ll scaffolds more than 10 feet above the ground must be
equipped with guardrail systems, which include top rails, When roofs are 50 feet or less in width, the use of a safety
midrails and toeboards. (29 CFR 1926.451) monitoring system alone is permitted.

• O
 verhead protection, such as decking or a debris net, is
required when working:

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Whenever a safety monitoring system is used, the employer must
have a FALL PROTECTION PLAN that includes:

• D
 ocumentation of why the use of conventional fall protection
systems (guardrails, personal fall arrest systems, or safety nets)
are not feasible or why their use would create a greater hazard;

• A
 written discussion of other measures that will be taken
to reduce or eliminate the fall hazards for employees who
cannot be provided with protection from the conventional fall
protection systems. Example: the employer must discuss how
scaffolds, ladders, or vehicle-mounted work platforms will be
used to provide a safer working surface and thereby reduce
the hazard of falling.

• T
 he locations where conventional fall protection methods
cannot be used must be identified.These locations must be
classified as controlled access zones.

• S
 afety monitoring systems must be implemented where no
other alternative measure has been implemented.

• T
 he name or other method of identification for each employee
who is designated to work in the controlled access zones. No
other employees can enter the controlled access zones.

General Industry Standard

The OSHA General Industry Standard, 29 CFR 1910.23, Guarding
Floor and Wall Openings and Holes, states that:

• E
 very open-sided floor or platform 4 feet or more above the
floor or ground level must be guarded by a standard railing
on all open sides except where there is entrance to a ramp,
stairway, or a fixed ladder.

• In addition to the railing, toeboards must be provided

wherever persons can pass underneath or there is moving
machinery or equipment in which falling materials could create
a hazard.

• E
 very runway must be guarded by a standard railing on
all open sides 4 feet or more above floor or ground level.
Wherever tools, machine parts, or materials are likely to be
used on the runway, a toeboard must also be provided on
each exposed side.

• W
 here there is the potential for persons who enter runways
to become exposed to machinery, electrical equipment, or
dangers other than a falling hazard, additional guarding may
be essential for protection.

LC175 04/11